I found some in my pantry and didn’t know if I could eat them or throw them away. Here is what I learned.
According to Sarra Sedghi, writing for allrecipes.com, “Sprouted potatoes do have the potential to be toxic because of a chemical called solanine. Potatoes and other nightshades, such as eggplant, tomatoes, and peppers, are naturally predisposed to produce solanine, which is toxic to humans if it’s ingested in large enough quantities. When potatoes are dormant, solanine isn’t an issue, but if potatoes aren’t stored properly or kept in ideal growing conditions, they start producing solanine in their sprouts. The tubers themselves will also turn green if they’re exposed to too much light, and that signals solanine production as well. Additionally, when potatoes start sprouting, their nutrients start fading away because they’re being transformed into sugar. If they’re left alone, they’ll shrivel up and become unsafe to eat entirely.”
So throw those potatoes away. Potatoes aren’t that expensive, and you will be better off with fresh, unsprouted potatoes. Here are some good recipes if you are tired of mashed and fries.
- 30 Best Potato Recipes
- 37 Best Potato Recipes & Ideas
- Best Quick Potato Recipes
- 10 Most Popular Potato Recipes of 2021
- 75 Best Potato Recipes to Use Your Spuds in Every Which Way
- (My favorite) Hash Brown Casserole